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Why need need longer maternity leaves

A recent study found that mothers of three month-old children who worked full time had higher rates of depression, stress and overall family stress than mothers with same age kids who stayed at home (who were home because they were still on maternity leave or did not have a job). But by the time their kids were 6 months old, working mothers reported lower rates of stress and depression.

"In fact, over the first four-and-a-half years of parenting, mothers actually enjoyed an overall reduction in parenting stress if they worked."

Having a child is a life-transforming event and this study supports the fact that moms would benefit from extended maternity leaves.